Will Hughes is at an age when most of his peers are trying to make the first team, but he already has a staggering 172 games under his belt.

'I feel like a veteran, at only 21 years old,' he says. 'It's four or five years till my testimonial!'

Five seasons have passed since Hughes flashed onto the scene with his white hair and pure touch and, remarkably for one so young, the 173rd domestic appearance of his career will come against Leicester in the FA Cup.

Will Hughes will make his 173rd appearance of his career against Leicester on Friday

The midfielder is only 21 years old but he has considerable experience in the Derby first team

That total would be even higher had Hughes not missed eight months last year through a serious knee injury, an experience he describes as a 'big mental battle'.

This campaign he is back conducting Derby's midfield with the kind of precocious finesse that alerted the Premier League's elite teams soon after his debut in 2011 and even, following a tournament for England Under 17s in the Algarve, made Barcelona take notice.

Transfer speculation has stalked Hughes and at one stage Brendan Rodgers felt compelled to go public to dampen expectation that Liverpool were to sign him.

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Hughes, who admits he was at Nottingham Forest between nine and 12 before a mutual parting of the ways, says he was never close to leaving Derby and this month solidified his commitment by signing a new contract at the club to 2020. He feels that had he moved elsewhere he would have jeopardised gaining this rare wealth of experience.

'I think I took it for granted playing so many games so young,' he reflects. 'You look at players in the Prem at big teams, turning 20, 21, and not getting a sniff. I think it is important you play as many games as you can when you are younger.

'Playing week in week out has put me in good stead, it has made me hungry when I am out of the team. I don't like that at all. Some players are comfortable sitting on the bench. But I can't imagine that ever happening with me.

The blond-haired playmaker has been the constant subject of transfer speculation

But he says he is happy where he is and has no plans to leave the Rams at present

'I think some of the young players now are happy to pick up the money, sit on the bench for Under 23s, wish their career away. They don't think long term that at 23, 24 they could be without a club, struggling. I couldn't think of anything worse.

'I have been linked with every team under the sun since I was 16 but the more I read about some of it the less I believe. I haven't really wanted to go anywhere. Playing in the Prem for Derby would be the ideal situation.'

Derby have been knocking on the door to the top flight since Steve McClaren first arrived and Hughes nearly forced it open with a starring role in the 2014 play-off final that ultimately went Queens Park Rangers' way.

WILL HUGHES: SEASON BY SEASON

Date of birth: April 17, 1995

Age: 21

2011-12: 3 appearances, 0 goals

2012-13: 38 appearances, 2 goals

2013-14: 48 appearances, 5 goals

2014-15: 48 appearances, 3 goals

2015-16: 8 appearances, 0 goals

2016-17: 27 appearances, 2 goals

TOTAL: 173 appearances, 12 goals

Paul Clement, Darren Wassell and Nigel Pearson have come and failed, leading to McClaren's shock return in October, 18 months after a bitter separation. Results have picked up and another shot at promotion is within reach.

'There is a lot of unfinished business at Derby,' says Hughes, who has a vital place in McClaren's system as the midfield fulcrum. 'There are quite a few of us who were here when he was last time, after a few days it was back to normal in a way. A lot of the players knew how he wanted to play. It just fits.'

Hughes's determination to reach the Premier League is fuelled even more by having to go through rehabilitation for a cruciate ligament injury that kept him out between August and April last season.

He admits being on crutches was a 'mental grind' but a tweet sent out in support of Ryan Mason shows his aptitude for seeing the bigger picture, a phrase he returns to more than once.

'A fractured skull like that puts my injury into perspective,' he says. 'I had my bad days and up days. It is a mix of emotions. It was worse coming to games. Once the team starts losing it is demoralising. I watched and thought what I could be contributing.'

Hughes gets off a shot during a Championship clash with QPR at Loftus Road in December

The midfielder was courted by Liverpool but wants to play in the Premier League with Derby

He will have more company in future should he suffer any further spells on the sidelines.

'I am getting a dog in the next week or so, a golden retriever,' he says. 'So that will take over my life, it is like having a kid! Sometimes you need to switch off and be refreshed.'

Hughes is good company, conscientious and with a sense of dry wit. He attributes his personality to his early education, split between state school and boarding at Repton, as well as the influence of Nigel Clough, who gave him his debut.

'I have a lot to thank him for, not only did he give me the chance but he helped me out on a personal level,' says Hughes. 'Off the field he taught me a lot of morals, how to act and be yourself. Not to get sucked into the bubble of football.

I have spoken to a few people about the Prem and they say it is more of a chess game, more tactical, which probably suits me. But at the same time, funnily enough I enjoy the battles on a Tuesday night away at Rotherham. They are quite satisfying really, what English football is all about.

Will Hughes on English football

'The facilities and opportunities at Repton were unbelievable. I was at state school when I was younger so I have seen both sides of it. Each of them gave me a different outlook on life. I am thankful for that.'

Hughes was studying for A Levels in business and politics when breaking into the senior side. 'I managed to scrape through and get the A Levels, which I think is good just in case. There is life after football. One day I will hopefully go into business one way or another.'

Hughes would also study footballers, watching videos of Xavi and Andres Iniesta, but his idol was the finest example of an English style midfielder.

'Steven Gerrard was one of my heroes growing up,' he says.

'I am just disappointed I didn't get the chance to play against him. It was not only his ability on the ball but his persona around the pitch. The way he conducted himself. If I have half the ability and half the career he had I'll be happy.'

Hughes acknowledges he needs to add goals to his game, but he has two in 17 games for England Under 21s, where he has benefited from mixing with Premier League players. Gareth Southgate came to trust in Hughes before his move to the senior set-up.

He lists the likes of Xavi and Andres Iniesta among those role models he looks up to

Hughes tries to win possession off Wigan defender Jake Buxton

'I've messaged him asking him for a call up!' Hughes says, half-joking. 'I got on really well with him. Hopefully in time he will look at younger players, that is where the future is.

'There have been a lot of step-ups the last couple of years. At the moment I am quite far away from it but we all know how quickly it changes in football. Marcus Rashford for example. You have to be in the right place at the right time and take your chance.

'If we do go to the Prem you obviously get a lot more exposure and if you are playing well it takes a couple of months to get a call up.

'I have spoken to a few people about the Prem and they say it is more of a chess game, more tactical, which probably suits me. But at the same time, funnily enough I enjoy the battles on a Tuesday night away at Rotherham. They are quite satisfying really, what English football is all about.'

The visit of Leicester promises to be a fight. Hughes has lost on all four previous occasions against Derby's east Midlands rivals but senses an opportunity to gain revenge.

'It is a local derby, and especially after everything that has happened with Leicester in the last year or so, it just adds that extra spice to it,' Hughes says.

'We have had a couple of spankings at their place. When we were playing them in the Championship you would never have imagined they could be top four, let alone Premier League winners and do well in the Champions League.

'That is the beauty of football. Who knows, maybe we could do it in a few years time. It is unlikely but anything can happen. Hopefully we can take advantage of their league form. They will be right up for it but I don't see why we can't cause an upset.'

Hughes has lost on each of the four occasions he has lined up against Leicester